Dover

Dover's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, marriage and work life.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Dover increased by 6.8%, from just under 105,000 to 112,000.

The addition of just over 7,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dover was home to, on average, 2.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Dover

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Dover increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This seaside area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 13% of people in Dover are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dover by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Dover

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Dover at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Dover, the proportion of single people increased from 26% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Dover fell from 53% to 49%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 12% to 14%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Dover working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. The improvement brought health in Dover close to the regional average 11% in the South East described their health as good in 2011).

Long hour working in Dover decreased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Dover, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Dover saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Dover had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.1% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person increased from 30% to 32%.

Across the region, only Southampton saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple (from 8.9% to 11%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Dover increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dover, the South East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Dover saw the South East's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in Dover had at least one dependent child, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 63% to 64%.

Across the region, only Fareham (from 30% to 28%) and Hastings (from 29% to 26%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Dover

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. An increase from 15% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Dover.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Dover that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 80,000 in 2001 to just under 72,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,600 to about 8,700. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.2% to 7.8%.

Just over 680 people (0.2%) said they were Hindu, up from just under 160 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population without a religion in Dover increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dover by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Dover

The percentage of Dover residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.3% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.0%, while the percentage of Dover residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Dover, but at a slower rate than in Thanet (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Dover).

In Dover, the proportion of private renting increased from 10% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Thanet increased from 15% to 24%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Dover fell from 15% to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 67%.

Private renting in Dover increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dover, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Dover

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 99% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Dover.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Dover from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 630 in 2001 to about 2,000 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 580 to about 1,000 (from 0.6% to 0.9%).

Just under 390 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Dover decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dover by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Dover residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 6.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Dover residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Dover decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Dover, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Dover residents that were unemployed increased from 3.3% to 4.5% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 51%, while the percentage of Dover residents that were self-employed increased from 8.1% to 9.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Dover increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Dover, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Dover residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.3% to 2.9% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Dover remained close to 2.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dover by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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